The Santa Barbara Independent

El Capitán State Beach Closing for One Year

Community By Matt Kettmann

The closure, which is for construction of a new road, bridge, kiosk, and trail, will begin on September 1.

County Settles Bryan Carreño Wrongful-Death Lawsuit for $850,000

Courts & Crime By Tyler Hayden

Carreño was shot 20 times by five deputies who broke tactical protocols.

Supervisors Push to Reengineer Santa Barbara’s Criminal Justice Machine

Courts & Crime By Nick Welsh

Can savings from the jail be used to fund prevention programs instead?

Idyll Mercantile: Where Plants Meet Their People

Community By Celina Garcia

A new houseplant and crafted goods shop sprouts on Chapala Street.

Association of Raza Educators Forms New Teachers Association

Education By Delaney Smith

The Santa Barbara chapter has 16 members and is growing.

New Music: Taylor C’Mone

Music By Matt Kettmann

The singer will be performing songs from her debut album ‘Womxn’ on April 16 at Music Alley in Santa Barbara.

Pandemic Causes Largest Budget Shortfall to Hit Santa Barbara

Business By Sunidhi Sridhar

The city’s transient occupancy taxes capped below its adopted budget.

multimedia Stories

The Indy, Ep. 4: Nick Welsh on Lawanda Lyons-Pruitt and the Housing vs. Height Debate

Video

The regional director of the NAACP has been promoting vaccinations among people of color, and the City Council debates raising the skyline.

Downtown Business Spotlight: Asian Cuisine

Video

Join Matt Kettmann in conversation with Peter Lee & Felicia Medina (Secret Bao), and Jerry Lee (Empty Bowl) in this week’s Downtown Business Spotlight.

A Message About Cathedral Oaks Road from the City of Goleta

Video

Please take a moment to watch this video message from Goleta Public Works Director Charlie Ebeling who discusses the pavement condition, planned paving activities and funding challenges for this important project.

The Indy, Ep. 3: Interviews with Oscar Nominees and a Film Festival Tribute Rundown

Video

This week’s podcast features reports on some of the many Oscar nominees being honored by the SBIFF.

Downtown Business Spotlight: Art Galleries: Fine Art for All

Video

Join Charles Donelan in conversation with Nathan Vonk (Sullivan Goss), Jan Ziegler (10 West), and Thomas Reynolds (Thomas Reynolds Gallery) in this week’s Downtown Business Spotlight.

Photo Gallery: Asian-American Pacific Islander Protest

Photo

Nearly 300 assembled Saturday in downtown Santa Barbara for a silent vigil to protest violence against Asian Americans.

Downtown Business Spotlight: Back to the Screen and Stage

Video

Join Charles Donelan in conversation with David Corwin (Metropolitan Theatres), Benjamin Goedert & Shannon Kelley (Santa Barbara International Film Festival), and Kathryn Martin (Santa Barbara Symphony) in this week’s Downtown Business Spotlight.

The Indy, Ep. 2: Michael J. Fox Cover Story and Film Festival Builds Drive-Ins at the Beach in Santa Barbara

Video

This Week’s podcast features Executive Arts Editor Charles Donelan on his zoom interview with Michael J. Fox and on the film festival’s plans to build two drive-in theaters across from Leadbetter Beach.

COVID-19 Variants 101

Video

Cottage Health infectious disease specialist Dr. Lynn Fitzgibbons discusses what COVID-19 variants are, why it matters, and the path forward.

Downtown Business Spotlight: Friendly Pets & Wild Paws

Video

Join Tyler Hayden in conversation with Catalina Esteves (Cat Therapy), Isabelle Gullo & Christopher Harris (CARE4PAWS), and Rich Block (Santa Barbara Zoo) in this week’s Downtown Business Spotlight.